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Cumbria's jobless total falls again

Unemployment in Cumbria has fallen again. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 8,675 people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance last month, 35 fewer than in September.

The county’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.8 per cent.

It was the third consecutive monthly fall and the seventh fall in eight months. Seasonal factors are partly responsible, such as the creation of temporary jobs in retailing and food processing in the run up to Christmas.

But crucially, the county's total is now lower than it was this time last year.

Within Cumbria, Carlisle saw the steepest fall. Its jobless total tumbled by 51 to 2,089, giving a rate of 3.1 per cent.

In Eden, the total fell by 18 to 403 (1.3 per cent). However, Allerdale’s claimant count climbed by 17 to 1,998 (3.4 per cent) and Copeland’s by three to 1,576 (3.5 per cent).

Nationally, the seasonally-adjusted claimant count increased by 10,100 to 1.58m but the rolling total, which includes people not eligible for Jobseeker’s Allowance, fell by 49,000 to 2.51m.